Floor conveyor apparatus for forage wagon

ABSTRACT

A forage wagon for dispensing forage of the type wherein the floor of the wagon supports an endless conveyor that functions to move the material to the discharge end of the wagon bed. The present invention relates to a novel floor and conveyor construction wherein the frame for the floor and conveyor is of unitary free-span construction that spans the body from side to side without the need for intermediate supporting structure. The floor frame further includes longitudinally extending chain receiving channels through which the conveyor chains travel with said chains being supported in non-contacting relationship with respect to the walls of the channels. The machine is further characterized by an adjustable conveyor chain take-up means that will not interfere with passing flights, and which includes a conveyor flight construction that provides for self-cleaning of the flight supporting links of the conveyor.

United States Patent [191 Reed 1 1 FLOOR CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR FORAGE WAGON [75] Inventor: Edward A. Reed, Galion, Ohio [73] Assignee: Harsco Corporation, Camp Hill, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 344,338

Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney, Agent, or FirmPalmer Fultz, Esq.

[ 1 June 25, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A forage wagon for dispensing forage of the type wherein the floor of the wagon supports an endless conveyor that functions to move the material to the discharge end of the wagon bed. The present invention relates to a novel floor and conveyor construction wherein the frame for the floor and conveyor is of uni- 'tary free-span construction that spans the body from side to side without the need for intermediate supporting structure. The floor frame further includes longitudinally extending chain receiving channels through which the conveyor chains travel with said chains being supported in non-contacting relationship with respect to the walls of the channels. The machine is further characterized by an adjustable conveyor chain take-up means that will not interfere-with passing flights, and which includes a conveyor flight construction that provides for self-cleaning of the flight supporting links of the conveyor.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENYEB JUNZ 5 I974 SHEEY 2 W 3 FLOOR CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR FORAGE WAGON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to forage wagons and more particularly to a novel floor conveyor construction.

A problem has been present in conventional forage wagon constructions in that the floor conveyor constructions have been conventionally supported by complex mounting supports that tend to clog with forage and which are difficult to clean. Moreover, conventional machines have presented a further problem in that the conveyor frames in their frictional movement across the floor surface tend to rapidly wear. Still another problem has been present in that the flight supporting links of the conveyor chains have been prone to clogging by material that collects in the links beneath the flights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the forage wagon of the present invention is provided with a novel floor conveyor arrangement of unitary free-span construction that eliminates conventional central floor support members thereby precluding the clogging by forage of the area beneath the floor and conveyor supporting frame.

As another aspect of the present invention the floor conveyor apparatus comprises a novel frame provided with longitudinally extending chain receiving channels through which the chains travel, and a flight supporting floor surface, said channels and floor surface cooperating to suspend the conveyor chains in non-contacting relationship with respect to the walls of the channels. This eliminates frictional contact between the conveyor chains'and the floor thereby preventing chain wear and greatly prolonging conveyor life.

As still another aspect of the present invention the floor conveyor construction comprises a novel conveyor chain take-up means adapted to adjust longitudinally without interfering with passing flight angles regardless of the position of adjustment.

As still another aspect of the present invention the floor conveyor construction is provided with a novel flight mounting means for supporting the conveyor flights on the chain links in a novel manner whereby said flight supporting links are self-cleaning with respect to particles of the forage material.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a forage wagon constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the forage wagon of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of a floor conveyor apparatus comprising a portion of the forage wagon of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of a unitary free-span floor frame comprising a portion of the forage wagon of the preceding figures;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings, a forage wagon constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a frame means 20 supported by wheels 24 and a draw bar 22 adapted for conventional attachment to a tractor. 2

Frame means 20 supports a body including side walls 26 and a bottom wall 32. FIG. 1 further shows that the general structure includes conventional heaters 30, a conventional cross conveyor 25, and a power take-off drive shaft 28 for attachment to the prime mover on the tractor.

With reference to the novel structure of the present invention, the forage wagon includes a novel unitary free-span floor conveyor frame indicated generally at 32 which comprises a plurality of hat section beams 74; FIG. 3, and a floor top 70.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the floor top includes longitudinally extending chain receiving channels 62 which receive the endless chains indicated generally at 34. r

The chains drive a plurality of transverse flights each of which is indicated generally at 42 and it should be mentioned that as the flights progress across the floor top 70 the flanges 50, FIG. 3, are supported by the floor top and the endless chains 34 are suspended within channels 62 in non-contacting relationship with respect to the walls of the channels.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3, each of the flight assemblies 42 comprises a transverse L-shaped flight member which comprises an upright flange 56 g and a horizontal flange 50. 7

Each flight further includes an attaching bracket 58 which includes side flanges 61 connected by transverse flanges 63. As seen in FIG. 3, the side flanges 61 are attached at their base to the top of a respective flight supporting link 65 at a weld 59. It should further be mentioned that the vertical flanges 56 of the flights are attached to brackets 58 by means of rivots 67. It will now be understood that when the angle members comprising the flanges 50, 56 are worn they can readily be replaced by removing rivots 67 and remounting new angle members on the brackets 58.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, each of the endless chains 34 includes certain links which will be termed herein flight supporting links with the pivots 48 thereof forming pivotal mounts for the respective flight assembly 42.

It should be mentioned that each of the flight assemblies 42 is arranged such that the forwardly extending flange 50 overlies the link ahead such that each time the chain goes over sprocket 38 the flange 50 will separate and a sprocket tooth 40 will push out any forage material which has built up in the link underlying the flange 50 of the flight.

It will now be understood that with the construction of the flight assemblies 42, and the associated chain and sprocket combination, the links that make up the endless chains will all be self-cleaning, including those of the links which are flight supporting.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, the floor conveyor apparatus further includes a novel adjustable chain take-up means which consists of an extendable and retractable eye bolt 45 supported within the adjustment mounting tube 66 and provided with a threaded shank portion that carries a tension adjusting nut 68.

It will now be understood that when it is desired to adjust the tension on the endless chains 34 nut 68 is manipulated so as to extend or retract adjusting eye bolt 45 with respect to adjustment mounting tube 66 whereby shaft 36, which mounts idler sprockets 38, is either longitudinally extended or retracted with respect to the floor conveyor frame 32.

In operation, when the power take-off shaft 28 is driven by the tractor, a forward drive sprocket assembly, not illustrated, drives the endless chains 34 within the chain receiving channels 62 and the flanges 50 of the flight assemblies 42 which lie along the floor top 70 and support the forwardly progressing top portion of the endless chains 34 above the bottoms of the channels 62 whereby said chains are isolated from frictionally imposed wear.

As the flight assemblies 42 move around the sprockets 38 the teeth 40 move into the flight supporting links and since the flanges 50 yield open, as seen in FIG. 3, any particles of forage lodged within the flight supporting links are dislodged whereby the links of the endless chains 34 are continuously cleaned.

When it is desired to adjust the tension on the chains 34 the idler sprocket shaft 36 can be moved longitudinally, with respect to the floor conveyor frame 32, by merely adjusting the tension of adjusting nut 68 with respect to the threaded shanks 64 of the extendable adjusting eye bolt 45.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is: 1. A forage wagon comprising, in combination, frame means including spaced longitudinally extending floor support members; a floor means and flight assembly including longitudinally extending sides supported by said floor support members, said assemblyv comprising a floor top provided with spaced longitudinally extending chain receiving channels, chain mounting sprockets on the front and rear of said frame means and in alignment with said channels; endless chains mounted on said sprockets and extended through said channels. said endless chains including a plurality of chain links; and a plurality of flights mounted on said endless chains, each of said flights being mounted on the flight supporting chain link and including a forward flight portion that overlies the chain link next ahead, said chain link ahead being separable from said forward flight portion when said flight supporting chain link passes over a sprocket thereby permitting a tooth of the sprocket to eject material build-up in said chain link next ahead.

2. The forage wagon defined in claim 1 that includes an adjustable chain take-up means mounted on said floor means and flight assembly.

3. A forage wagon comprising, in combination, frame means; a floor means and flight assembly mounted on said frame means and including from and rear chain mounting sprockets; endless chains mounted on said sprockets for longitudinal movement along said frame means, said endless chains including a plurality of chain links; and a plurality of flights mounted on said endless chains, each of said flights being mounted on the flight supporting chain link and including a forward flight portion that overlies the chain link next ahead, said chain link ahead being separable from said forward flight portion when said flight supporting chain link passes over a sprocket thereby permitting a tooth of the sprocket to eject material buildup in said chain link next ahead.

4. The forage wagon defined in claim 3 that includes an adjustable chain take-up means mounted on said floor means and flight assembly. 

1. A forage wagon comprising, in combination, frame means including spaced longitudinally extending floor support members; a floor means and flight assembly including longitudinally extending sides supported by said floor support members, said assembly comprising a floor top provided with spaced longitudinally extending chain receiving channels, chain mounting sprockets on the front and rear of said frame means and in alignment with said channels; endless chains mounted on said sprockets and extended through said channels, said endless chains including a plurality of chain links; and a plurality of flights mounted on said endless chains, each of said flights being mounted on the flight supporting chain link and including a forward flight portion that overlies the chain link next ahead, said chain link ahead being separable from said forward flight portion when said flight supporting chain link passes over a sprocket thereby permitting a tooth of the sprocket to eject material build-up in said chain link next ahead.
 2. The forage wagon defined in claim 1 that includes an adjustable chain take-up means mounted on said floor means and flight assembly.
 3. A forage wagon comprising, in combination, frame means; a floor means and flight assembly mounted on said frame means and including front and rear chain mounting sprockets; endless chains mounted on said sprockets for longitudinal movement along said frame means, said endless chains including a plurality of chain links; and a plurality of flights mounted on said endless chains, each of said flights being mounted on the flight supporting chain link and including a forward flight portion that overlies the chain link next ahead, said chain link ahead being separable from said forward flight portion when said flight supporting chain link passes over a sprocket thereby permitting a tooth of the sprocket to eject material build-up in said chain link next ahead.
 4. The forage wagon defined in claim 3 that includes an adjustable chain take-up means mounted on said floor means and flight assembly. 